I nod and kiss her forehead. She steps out of my embrace and walks out into the main part of the house. Everyone is staring at her with worried looks on their faces.
“I’m sorry, guys,” she says in a weak voice. “I didn’t mean to ruin the vibe.”
“It’s okay, you didn’t,” Nick says. Everyone says it’s all fine.
Briar’s lips wobble like she’s trying hard not to cry.
“Oh, honey.” My mom walks up to her. “How about we sit down for a moment?”
“Yeah, okay,” she says weakly.
She leads Briar to the couch. “How about some tea?” my mom asks.
“That would be nice, thanks,” Briar says.
My mom glances up at me. “Blake, honey, could you brew us some tea?”
“Yeah, of course.” I head into the kitchen and fill the kettle. Everyone moves to the dining room and kitchen to give Briar and my mom some privacy.
When the tea is ready, I set it on the coffee table without saying anything. Briar’s quietly talking to my mom, and I don’t want to interrupt.
Everyone goes back to talking and visiting.
My dad walks up to me. “Hey.”
I huff out a breath. “Hey.”
He claps a hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just sad for Briar. It’s messed up the way her parents are treating her.”
“It is. But I’m proud of how you defended her.”
I look at him. “You are?”
He nods. “You should always stand up for the woman in your life. Always.”
He walks off, his words the boost I didn’t know I needed.
Chapter 37
Briar
Istep out of the shower, grab a towel, and wrap it around myself.
I close my eyes and take a slow breath. That hot shower was exactly what I needed after that argument with my parents earlier today.
When I think about how everyone in the house heard us, I want to melt into the floor and disappear. That wassoembarrassing.
But then I think about how kind and understanding they all were. How sweet Blake’s mom was to sit with me and let me vent to her. How Anna and Poppy sat with me after that. How, after everyone’s parents left, the guys checked on me and told me to go upstairs so I could relax while they cleaned up everything.
Blake has the best friends and teammates.
My mind drifts back to the way he marched into the kitchen and defended me. How he didn’t hesitate to tell off my parents for how they were treating me. How he was firm and unrelenting, but still respectful.
My heart flutters in my chest at how quickly he can shift from sweet and funny to attack dog, willing to do anything to protect me.
How he acted more like a protective boyfriend than a friend.
